Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



H. CORRALL AND B. A. STEVENS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, I919- Patented May 2, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHED I.

I N N N WITNESSES:

INVENTORS ATTORNEY H. CORRALL AND B. A. STEVENS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT, 27, I919- WITNESSES:

Paterited May 2, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ATTORNEY UM? s'rrs an ease,

ERIK. CORRALL, OF HELEN SIBURG-H, AND BERTRAM A. STEVENS, F CLYDEB n11SCOTLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

TION OF NEW JERSEY.

1 CORPORA= FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922..

Application filed October 27, 1919. serial No. 333,697.

' to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanisms for sewingmachines and more particularly to the wheel-feed class of thesemechanisms.

The primary object of the present invention is to insure the formationof uniform stitch-lengths without relative slip" in the plies beingstitched by providing a feeding mechanism wherein, a feed-wheel receivesacontinuous rotary movement both when the needle is in the work and whenthe needle is out of the work, combined with positive means, operatingindependently of any action of the work, for imparting bodily lateralmovements to the needle in the line of feed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuously rotatingwork-engaging feed-wheel operatlng in conjunction with a needle of whichthe bodily lateral movements are adjustable to-insure the feeding of thework a uniform amount for each reci rocation of the needle. 7

T e invention has for a further object to provide acontinuouslyeffective wheel-feed mechanism includin simple means,readily vaccessible to an operator, for changing the level of thefeed-wheel for differentclasses ofwork.

' A still further object of the invention .is to embody a wheel-feedmechanism of the character referred toin a sewing machine embodying aloop-taker rotating about a vertical axis for cooperation with.

. the needle. in the formation of stitches,

-bobbin-case carrying the lower thread.

whereby. readyaccess may be had to' the Another object of the inventionis to provide simple mechanism for continuously actuating the feed-wheelreadily permitting the changin of the speed .of rotation of thezfeed-wheel relative'to the speed of Wheel actuating shaft.

rotation of the main-shaft of the machine and adapted to run smoothlyand quietly at high speed.

To the attainment of the several objects of the present invention, thewheel-feed 'mechanism in its preferred embodiment is adapted to a sewingmachine havin supporting and actuating mechanism or an endwisereciprocating and laterally vibrating needle substantially as disclosedin the U. S. patent to. C. F. Gray, No. 929,761, August 3, 1909.

The feed-wheel is journalled in a frame adapted to be swung on an axissubstantially parallel with the axis of the feeda wheel and coincidentwith the axis of an actuating shaft having operative connec tions bymeans of interchangeable gears with the feed-wheel; The purposeofswinging the feed-wheel is primarily to obtain the correct level forvdifierent classes of work and may be accomplished by means accessiblefrom above the cloth-plate of the machine.

The feed-wheel actuating shaft mentioned is connected by means of a wormand wormwheel fwith a vertical shaft journaled in the. machine standard,suitably driven from the'main-shaft and havin ear connections adjacentthe worm an .wormwheel with .a shaft transmittin rotary movements tovthe loop-taker. his construction. is preferred as it obtains a positivedrive for the feed-wheel without loss in the speed of the machine,permits the use of a minimum number of operating parts, and'permits thetransmitting gearing .for the feed-wheel and 'rotar loop-' takel. to beenclosed in a single ousing which may be packed with lubricant for bothsets of gears.

The loop-taker employed may be ofany well known type rotatable upon avertical axis and carrying amass of under thread 1 around which theloop-taker casts the needle-thread loops. The loop-taker is car-- riedby a vertical shaft operatively con 7 'nected to thetransmitting shaftbefore referred togby means of gears which together with the verticalloop-taker shaft are enclosed in a lubricant housing affording a bearingfor the forward In the accompanying drawings, Figs 1r end ofthe feedis asectional view in elevation of a sewing machine embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a front end view of a portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is asectional view substantially on the line 02-00 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machine shown is provided with thebedplate 1, the upper surface of which serves as a cloth-plate. Risingfrom the bed plate is the hollow standard 2, curving laterally into theoverhanging arm 3 terminating in the head 4. Suitably journaled in theoverhanging arm is the main or driving shaft 5 carrying at one end thebelt-wheel 6 and at its opposite end the shaft-flange 7 provided withthe crank-pin 8. Embracing the crank-pin 8 is the aper; turedand'laterally ofiset end of the link 9 of which the opposite end isconnected in a like manner with the stud 10 projecting from the collar11 suitably secured to the needle-bar 12.

The needle-bar 12 carries the needle 12' and is journaled for verticalreciprocation in spaced bearings, as 13, provided in the swinging frame14 pivotally supported at its upper end upon the stud 15 projecting fromthe head 4. In order to impart swinging movements to the frame 14, thelower of the spaced bearings 13 is suitably connected with the crank-arm16 on one end of the rock-shaft 17, journaled in bearings provided inthe overhanging arm. The rock-shaft 17 extends substantially parallel tothe driving shaft 5 and has secured thereupon the forked-arm 18 actuatedby the eccentric 19 adjustable in a well-known manner to vary the throwof the arm 18. Through the described operating mechanism the needle-bar12 evidently receives endwise reciprocating and laterally vibratorymovements, the extent of lateral movement being adjustable. Theneedle-thread take-up employed may be of any suitable construction andneed not be described herein.

Adjacent the eccentric 19, the driving shaft 5 carries a bevel gear 20meshing with a bevel-gear 21, carried by the upper end of a vertical,intermediate shaft 22 journaled at its upper end in a bearing providedin a bracket 23 projecting from the standard 2. The bevel-gears 20, 21are of a ratio whereby shaft 22 receives two rotations to each rotationof the driving shaft 5. At its lower end, the shaft 22 is journaled in abearing 24 formed in the frame of a housing 25 having a laterallyprojecting securing plate 26 attached by screws, as 27, to the underside of the bed-plate 1. Within the opening 28 afforded by the frame ofthe housing 25. the shaft 22 carries a worm 29 and a bevel-gear 30. Theworm 29 drives a worm-wheel 31 secured upon a substantially horizontalfeed-wheel actuating shaft 32 journaled at its rearward end in a bushing33 suitably secured in an apertureprovided in the frame of the housing25. The bevel-gear meshes with a similar gear 34 carried by the rearwardend of a, looptaker actuating shaft 35 journaled in a bushing 36suitably secured in an aperture provided for the purpose in the housing25. The opening 28 of the housing 25 may be packed with lubricant and isclosed by a detachable plate 37 secured by screws, as 38, upon the frameof the housing.

The loop-taker actuating-shaft 35 extends substantially parallel to thedriving shaft 5 and is journaled at its forward end in a bushing 39secured by a set-screw 40 in a suitable aperture provided in a secondhousing 41. A bevel-gear 42, carried by the forward end of the shaft 35and located in an opening 43 afforded by the housing 41, meshes with asimilar gear 44 secured by a set-screw 45 upon a vertical loop takercarrying shaft 46. The shaft 46 is journaled in a bushing 47 suitablysecured in an aperture of a web 48 (shown in dotted lines only) providedinthe housing 41. At its upper end the shaft 46 carries a loop-taker 49of a well known type containing a mass of under thread around which theloop of needle-thread is cast. The loop-taker 49. through the describedconnections, evidently receives two rotations to each reciprocation ofthe needle 12. The opening 43 in the housing is closed by a detachableplate 50 secured by screws as 51 upon the frame 41 of the housing,therebyproviding means for suitably lubricating the enclosed mechanism.

The loop-taker shaft housing 41 is secured by screws, as 52, upon theunderside of the bed-plate 1 and affords a bearing for the feed-wheelactuating shaft 32 by the provision of an aperture into which is fitteda bushing 53. Adjacent the front end of the housing 41 there isjournaled upon the bushing 53, i. e., coaxially with shaft 32,

an apertured boss of a feed-wheel supporting frame 54. A feed-wheel 55is suitably secured upon a shaft 56 journaled in the frame 54 andprojects upwardly through a suitable slot provided in the throat-plate57, Where it coa'cts with a roller-presser 58 of any well-knownconstruction. In order to establish driving connections for rotating thefeed-wheel to continuously feed the work being operated upon, there issecured upon the shaft 56 by means of set-screws, as 59, a spur-gear 60.meshing with a driving spur-gear 61 secured by set-screws, as 62, uponthe feed-wheel actuating shaft 32. The spur-gears 60 and 61 are situatedso as to be readily interchangeable with other gears of differentratios, whereby the stitchlength may be in iaeat varied. When thesegears are changed, it is essential to adjust the eccentric 19 in theusual manner to correspondingly alter the lateral throw of the needle. n

For different classes of work it is desirable to change the extentthat'the feedwheel projects above the throat-plate 57 and tothis end itis important that the means for effecting this adjustment be accessiblypresented to the operator from above the cloth-plate. presentconstruction the free end of the feed-wheel supporting frame 54 issustained by an adjusting screw 63 threaded into a cross-piece 64bridging the forked end of the frame, with the head screw 63 restingupon the bed-plate 1 under. the action of a cpiled spring 65; It isapparent that by turning the screw 63 either to the right or left, theframe 54: will be correspondingly raised or lowered about the axis ofthe shaft 32, carrying the feed-wheel therewith.

The described construction obviates the difiiculty of obtaining uniformstitchlengths heretofore experienced in intermittently drivenfeed-wheels due to relative slip and overthrow, whilejmposing no dragupon the work during the penetration thereof by the needle. Thestitching operation therefore requires less attention on the part of anoperator, with neverthelessa decided gain in speed and uniformity ofwork.-

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim hereinis-; 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a cloth-plate, anoverhanging arm, a

needle carrying bar j ournaled upon said overhanging arm above saidcloth-plate, means. for imparting work penetrating movements to saidneedle, and means for imparting positive lateral movements to the needlesub: stantiallyin the line of feed of the work, of

continuousl feeding work feeding means ineluding a eed-wheel journaledbeneath the.

cloth-plate upon a substantially horizontal axis and acting upon thework substantially at the point of penetration thereof "by the needle,and a thread-mass carrying looptaker journaled for rotarywmovement beeneath the cloth-plate upon a substantially vertical axis and coactingwith the needle in the formation of lock stitches.

2. In a sewing machine, thecombination with a needle, a driving shaft,means .for endwise reciprocating and laterally vibrating the needle fromsaid driving shaft, and a thread-mass carrying looptaker cooperatingwith said needle in the formation -of lock stitches, of a rotatablefeed-wheel, an intermediate shaft actuated vfrom said driving shaft, andindividual driving elements carried by said intermediate shaft for con--tinuously rotating said loop-taker and said According to the of theadjusting feed-wheel duringthe operation of the machine.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a cloth-plate, a needle, adriving shaft, and means for imparting work-penetrating and work-feedingmovements to said needle from said driving shaft, of a feed-wheel and athread-mass carrying loop-taker journaled-beneath the cloth-plate forrotation upon substantially transverse axes, an intermediate shaft, anddriving elements carried by said intermediate shaft for continuouslyrotating said loop-taker and said feed-wheel during the operation of themachine.

4. lln a sewing machine, the combination with a cloth-plate, a needle,and means for reciprocating'said'needle, of a work engaging feed-wheel,a rotary feed-wheel actuating shaft, a swinging rame fulcrumed be-'neath the cloth-plate substantially coaxially with said actuating shaftupon which frame said feed-wheel is journaled, and'a driving gearcarried by said actuating shaft at a free end thereof having drivingconnections with said feed-wheel.

5. lln a se'wingmachine, the combination with an actuating shaft, aneedle, and looper mechanism complemental to said needle in v theformation of stitches, of a continuously feeding work-feed wheel,interengaging driving elements intermediate said actuat-- With acloth-plate, a needle and complemental stitch-forming mechanism, of acontinuously rotatable work-engaging feedwheel journaled-on one 'side ofsaid clothplate, means for rotating'said feed-wheel, and eans located onthe side of the clothplate opposite to that upon which the feedwheel isjournaled for effecting adjustment of the level of the feed-wheel.

'1 lin a sewing machine,'the combination with a cloth-plate, an endwisereciprocating and laterally vibrating needle, and complementalstitch-forming mechanism, of a rdtatable work-engaging feed-wheeljournaled beneath the cloth-plate, meansfor rotating said feed-wheel tocontinuously feed the work, and means accessible from above thecloth-plate for effecting adjustment of the level of the feed-wheel.

iae

chines, comprising a rotatable work-engaging feed-Wheel, a rotaryfeed-wheel actuating shaft, a frame affording a journal for saidfeed-wheel and fulcrumed coaxially with said shaft, and drivingconnections between said shaft and said feed-wheel.

10. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a rotatablework-engaging feed-wheel, a rotary feed-wheel actuating shaft, a frameupon which said feed-wheel is journaled adapted to be swung on an axissubstantially coincident with the axis of said feed-wheel actuatingshaft, and means for swinging said frame to effect adjustment of thelevel of the feed-wheel.

11. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle, a driving shaft,means for reciprocating said needle from said driving shaft, a rotaryloop-taker complemental to said needle in the formation of stitches, acontinuously rotatable feed-wheel, an intermediate shaft actuated fromsaid driving shaft, gears rovided upon said intermediate shaft foractuating both the looptaker and the feed-wheel, and a lubricant housingenclosing said gears. v

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanismincluding a needle and a loop-taker, of a feed-wheel, an actuatingshaft, means including adjacent spur and worm gears carried by saidshaft for transmitting operative movements to said loop-taker andfeed-wheel, and a single housing enclosing said gears.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT CORRALL. BERTRAM A. STEVENS. Witnesses:

HENRY MAsoN, PETER MURDOOK.

